Catholic Information Service for Africa (Nairobi)
16 May 2008
Johannesburg — The Catholic Church in Southern Africa has joined its voice to that of the government and others in expressing dismay at increasing attacks on immigrants.
Archbishop Buti Tlhagale.O.M.I., Catholic Archbishop of Johannesburg and President of the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference, said recent attacks on non-South Africans are a cause of real shame and concern.
The ruling African National Congress (ANC) also condemned the attacks. "We call on all South Africans to take a firm stand against such violent acts and treat them as hate crimes. Such acts can only take society backwards and open the wounds of racism and intolerance against which so many of our people fought," the party said.
Archbishop Tlhagale described the attacks as "a new apartheid mentality" that is killing the country and the people's dignity.
"Basic Human rights are part of our basic human dignity, given by God. God creates us all equal and creates us all for community. God does not have borders. Jesus, the Son of God, broke all social conventions by showing God's Love to all. No one has the right to remove our God-given dignity and our human rights, as we have shown in the battle against apartheid," the archbishop said.
"Let us remind ourselves of a few basic points: the Ten Commandments extend to our treatment of foreigners. This means that the statement "you shall not kill" stands in condemnation of the actions of the South African mob which is currently running amok in Alexandra. There have been over 15 incidents of violence against foreigners in South Africa in the last 5 months."
Archbishop Tlhagale also condemned thugs who out of envy attack foreigners who have the skills and industry to get jobs.
"I am being blunt because bluntness is called for in this situation. Everyone who takes a step in a march in a township to protest [against] "foreigners" is taking a step closer to hell."
The archbishop of Johannesburg forbade any Catholic in the metropolitan see from assisting the attackers or approving their behaviour. "I call on the Catholics and people of good will in Alexandra to be the first to come to the aid of their neighbours who have been so ill treated."
The police should enforce the human rights for all guaranteed in the constitution for all human beings, Archbishop Tlhagale said. "I call on the victims of this violence to forgive us for our sins."
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